B.C. government to keep antlers and hide after decision overturned in guided hunt case

DAWSON CREEK, B.C. — An appeal has ruled a man cannot keep the trophies of a 2023 hunt gone wrong which resulted in the killing of a premature thinhorn ram mountain sheep. 

According to court documents of the R v McDermott case heard on February 2nd, 2025 before the Supreme Court of British Columbia in Dawson Creek, Zachary McDermott, a resident of Sheridan, Wyoming, was found guilty of killing a mountain sheep out of season, while also exceeding his bag limit by killing more than one sheep. 

In August 2023, McDermott embarked on a guided hunt for thinhorn sheep. McDermott had paid the guide $70,000 USD, which included the guide’s fees as well as travel costs and a tip.

During the hunt, while positioned around 200 yards below a group of sheep and on the advice of his guide, McDermott attempted to shoot an eight-year-old thinhorn ram mountain sheep, but was informed by his guide he was unsuccessful. 

McDermott and his guide then noticed that the ram they had just shot at had not moved, and seeing this, the two decided to make a second attempt.

This time, they were successful. Seeing the sheep fall over, the pair headed down to inspect their kill. Upon arriving, McDermott and his guide discovered a second sheep had fallen over. 

After reaching the two sheep, they discovered that one sheep was of legal age, while the other appeared to be below the legal age for hunting. 

Despite this being a fully licensed hunt, McDermott was found in violation of two sections of the Wildlife Act. As required under the act, McDermott and his guide reported the killing.

McDermott was later issued a violation ticket by a conservation officer and the hide and antlers of the sheep were subsequently confiscated. After paying the $450 fine, McDermott appealed the decision to confiscate the hide and antlers. 

The Honorable Judge Brian A Daley, who originally heard the case, ruled McDermott did not violate any aspects of the Wildlife Act, and was therefore entitled to the remains of the mountain sheep. Daley argued that it was unreasonable for the crown to expect McDermott to make his own judgement after already being advised by his guide. 

“Given this truly unique matrix of circumstances, I am disinclined to find fault in Mr. McDermott’s actions. The Crown’s position – that Mr. McDermott should have, after being told to shoot by his guide, had made his own independent inquiry – is in my respectful opinion, a ‘counsel of perfection.’

“Again, in my respectful opinion, the Crown is running afoul of the old adage, ‘don’t let perfect get in the way of the really, really good.’

“Mr. McDermott’s actions, while perhaps not perfect, were really, really good.”

The case was then brought to the Supreme Court of British Columbia, where the court reversed this previous decision. 

The Honourable Justice Sandra Wilkinson ruled on February 25th that the judge wrongly awarded the wildlife to McDermott, despite him admitting he did not comply with the Wildlife Act.

Justice Wilkinson later ruled the appeal is allowed, and that the province may retain possession of the hide and antlers from the sheep.